Sites Just For Seniors

We've searched the World Wide Web to bring you the best resources on a variety of topics.

Local Services & Organizations

Halton Community Services Database
Search this local database to find out what organizations, services and opportunities exist for seniors in Burlington. Search by subject, organization name, or click on the "Search For" drop-down menu arrow and scroll down to various categories of services and organizations.
Halton Seniors Directory 2009
From the Region of Halton Elder Services Advisory Committee [48p, PDF]. Print copies are also available at Information Burlington in the Burlington Central Library and from the Region of Halton 905-825-6000.
Burlington Seniors' Centre
Programs, events and services for Seniors 55 and over. Come on out and join in the fun!

General Interest

50Plus.com
An online community for Canadians over fifty, from Canada's Association for the Fifty-Plus (formerly CARP), featuring chats, news, internet tutorials and information on a wide variety of topics.
Canadian Senior Years
A site specifically designed for Canadians over 50 with a special focus on the Grey Bruce area of Ontario. Find games, links, news and good information overall.
Ontario Seniors' Secretariat (OSS)
Access a variety of information of interest to seniors, their families and those who work with seniors.
Halton Region Elder Services Advisory Committee - Publications
Online publications on a wide variety of issues and Fast Facts covering caregiving tips, seniors and medications, legal issues, seniors and driving and much more. Print copies are also available at Information Burlington in the Burlington Central Library and from the Region of Halton 905-825-6000.
WidowNet
An information and self-help resource for, and by, widows and widowers.
Wired Seniors
Over 5,000 links to sites of interest exclusively for the over 50 age group, including Vacation and Home Exchange directory, and A-Z search directories for Canada, Australia, U.K. and the U.S.A.

Help For Seniors

Halton Community Services Database
Staff at Information Burlington, at the Burlington Central Library 905-639-4212, can guide you to the help you need. Some of the major publicly-funded and non-profit resources are:
Community Care Access Centre, Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (serves Burlington) - The CCAC is the starting point for government-funded home care services for those who need assistance to stay in their own homes, and also coordinates admissions to long-term care homes.
Halton Seniors Directory 2009
From the Region of Halton Elder Services Advisory Committee [48p, PDF]. Print copies are also available at Information Burlington in the Burlington Central Library and from the Region of Halton 905-825-6000.
Assistive Devices Program (ADP)
A program of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that assists with the cost of medical devices and aids such as wheelchairs, walkers; communication devices; diabetes equipment and supplies; hearing aids, visual aids and more.
Veterans Services - Veterans Affairs Canada
Services available to qualified veterans of the Canadian Forces and Merchant Navy include: health care benefits; disability pensions; care facilities; and the Veterans Independence Program which complements in-home health and support services provided by CCACs and also may provide home adaptations, yard maintenance, housekeeping services and transportation costs to provide support for veterans in their own homes.
Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA)
If you need to supplement the services available through the Community Care Access Centre, this is an excellent source of information about nonprofit agencies that can provide additional help at home.

Your Health

Halton Region Health & Wellness
A wide variety of programs and information on health and wellness, dental care, and disease and injury prevention for seniors.
Aging and Seniors
From Health Canada, includes links to publications and resources, organizations, programs and issues of concern to seniors e.g. alcohol use, injury prevention, legal rights and medication.
Ontario Drug Benefit Program
This program grants benefits to eligible persons to assist with the cost of prescription drugs.
Seniors Health
The seniors' section from the Public Health Agency of Canada provides health information on a variety of topics including healthy eating, mental health and physical health.

Health Organizations:
Alzheimer Society of Canada
An award winning site with excellent resources.
Arthritis Society
The Arthritis Society is Canada's only not-for-profit organization devoted to funding and promotion of arthritis research, programs and patient care.
Canadian Hearing Society
A description of the programs, services and resources designed to enhance the independence of the deaf and hard of hearing and that encourage prevention of hearing loss.
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
A description of the services that are available to enhance the independence of people who are blind, visually impaired and deafblind.
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
A reliable source of information about heart, stroke and healthy living in Canada.
Osteoporosis Canada
Facts about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

Your Home

Is Your Home Suitable for You Now and in the Future? - [42p, PDF]
A housing checklist compiled by Halton Region's Elder Services Advisory Committee, to help you assess the senior-friendliness of your current home, help you select a new home, or assess a specific area in your home. Print copies are also available from Halton Region at 905-825-6000.
Housing Options for Seniors in Halton - [38p, PDF]
This publication of Halton Region’s Elder Services Advisory Committee covers a wide variety of options such as staying in your own home (and the supports available to help you do so), affordable housing for seniors, assisted living, life leases, retirement residences and long-term care homes, how they differ and how to choose what’s right for you. Print copies are also available at Information Burlington in the Burlington Central Library and from Halton Region at 905-825-6000.
TheCareGuide.com
A comprehensive database of retirement homes, long-term care homes, supportive housing, home health care services and community support services in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. Includes a questionnaire to help with needs assessment and allows you to search for facilities by location and type.
Home Adaptations for Seniors Independence (HASI)
This program provides funding to homeowners and landlords so that they can make permanent minor home adaptations.

Your Money

Finance & Investing
Information on investing, stocks, mutual funds and online calculators - recommended sites as selected by BPL staff.
Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security
A guide to Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Spouse's Allowance and International Benefits from Social Development Canada including the Allowance and the Allowance for the Survivor (PDF).
Frauds & Cons
Tips from Halton Regional Police Service Regional Fraud Unit to help you protect your money and identity.
Government of Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS)
The Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) program provides a guaranteed minimum income for eligible Ontario senior citizens.
International Benefits
You may be eligible for social security (pension) benefits if you or your deceased spouse or common-law partner lived or worked in another country.
Scam Warning Signs
From CBC's Marketplace, tips to help you identify a scam.
War Veterans Allowance (WVA)
The WVA is a program of Veterans Affairs Canada that provides qualified persons with a regular monthly income to meet basic needs, in recognition of war service. Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces, Merchant Navy or Allied Forces, civilians who served in close support of the Canadian Armed Forces during wartime may be eligible. Surviving spouses, common-law partners or orphans may also qualify.
From Canada Revenue Agency:
Seniors - Income tax information for seniors provides easy access to various topics or services relating to seniors, including information about the Canada Pension Plan and voluntary tax deductions.
Tax Information Slips - This online service allows you to view and print copies of your Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) tax information slips. You can submit these copies with your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax return. You can also choose to stop receiving your tax slips by mail.

Getting Around

Accessible Parking Permits
The Accessible Parking Permit is issued to individuals and entitles the vehicle in which it is displayed to be parked in a designated accessible parking space.
Burlington Transit
Provides bus service throughout Burlington as well as the Handi-Van program, a bus service for people who experience physical difficulty with ordinary public transit. Qualified individuals are also eligible for the Taxi Scrip program for reduced-cost taxi coupons.
Official MTO Driver's Handbook Online
Now you can read the official Driver's Handbook on your computer.
Driver's Handbook Test Yourself
These questions will give you an idea of what to expect on the knowledge test from MTO.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing
From the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, everything you need to know about how and where to renew your driver's licence and plate stickers, or buying or selling a used vehicle. Age 80 or over? See the Senior Driver Renewal Program below.
Senior Driver Renewal Program
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation requires that drivers aged 80 years and over take part in the Senior Driver Renewal Program every two years.

Legal Information

Legal Line
provides general information about legal issues, including Ontario and Canadian Federal Laws; NOT legal advice.
Power of Attorney
Information from the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.

Online Magazines

Forever Young News
The online version of the Canadian newspaper for today's 50-Plus lifestyle
GRANDtimes.com
A weekly Internet magazine for seniors with primarily American content.
Silver and Gold Magazine
Local online magazine for those 55 and older, with a calendar of events in Halton, Hamilton and Niagara and articles on a wide variety of topics. "Click to Flip" to browse the latest issue.

Travel

50Plus.com Travel
A travel page from Canada's Association for the Fifty-Plus (formerly CARP).
Exploritas (formerly Elderhostel Canada)
Catalogues of world-wide educational adventures for adults aged 55 and over. (Note: copies of U.S. & Canada Programs and International Programs MAY be available at BPL locations.)
Routes to Learning Canada
Routes to Learning Canada (formerly Elderhostel Canada) is a not for profit organization committed to promoting and providing high quality life-long learning opportunities for mature adults and their families, in Canada and abroad, through travel and other learning activities. RLC is the provider of Elderhostel programs in Canada.
Walking the World
A site for people 50 and better who enjoy meeting, travelling and walking with others who share their love of adventure and sense of wonder about the world.
Travel
Looking for more on travel? Check out BPL’s Recommended sites on travel for tourism sites, passport information, language learning, work and study abroad, and much more.

Maintained by Glynis Maxwell
Updated February 2010

Home | Library Internet Policies | Change Text Size | Site Index